The Vodacom Cheetahs and the Vodacom Blue Bulls meet in their third consecutive Absa Currie Cup final at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein today.
Each team has won one of the previous finals, the Cheetahs, who are reigning champions, winning 29-25 in 2005 and the Blue Bulls winning 42-33 in 2004. Both matches were played in Pretoria. The Blue Bulls were also champions in 2002 and 2003.
The Blue Bulls, who were spectacularly dethroned as champions by the Cheetahs in the dying minutes of last year's final, will be playing in a fifth successive final emulating the great Blue Bulls side of the past that played in the final every year between 1987 and 1991.
The two Absa Currie Cup final contenders have met in seven previous finals, with the Blue Bulls winning six, four at home and two in Bloemfontein.
Both teams had spectacular victories in their respective semi-final, the Cheetahs seeing off a brave challenge by the Sharks 30 -14, and the Blue Bulls defeating Vodacom WP 45-30. They are also the two form teams going into the final with each carrying their own particular lucky charms in to the final.
The Cheetahs enjoy home advantage and the support of a very passionate crowd. They have also grown in stature in recent seasons and as defending champs they will be looking to retain the title that they won for the first time in 29 years in 2005. Although they last beat the Bulls at home in 2002 they should enter the match with great confidence and composure.
The Blue Bulls have history and experience on their side. They have never lost an Absa Currie Cup final in Bloemfontein, they have been champions three times in the past five seasons, they won both of the league clashes against the Cheetahs in 2006 and they have won eight out of the last 12 meetings between the two since 2001, including victories in Bloemfontein in 2003 and 2005.
The Cheetahs have won three out of the previous 12 clashes with one match ending in a draw - 27-all in 2004.
Last 12 meetings in the Absa Currie Cup since 2001
Cheetahs have won: 3
Blue Bulls have won: 8
Drawn: 1
2006 Cheetahs 31 Blue Bulls 41 in Pretoria
Cheetahs 12 Blue Bulls 24 in Bloemfontein
2005 Cheetahs 29 Blue Bulls 25 in Pretoria (Final)
Cheetahs 22 Blue Bulls 26 in Bloemfontein
Cheetahs 16 Blue Bulls 26 in Pretoria
2004 Cheetahs 33 Blue Bulls 42 in Pretoria (Final)
Cheetahs 27 Blue Bulls 27 in Bloemfontein
Cheetahs 30 Blue Bulls 31 in Pretoria
2003 Cheetahs 24 Blue Bulls 51 in Bloemfontein
Cheetahs 19 Blue Bulls 36 in Pretoria
2002 Cheetahs 35 Blue Bulls 29 in Bloemfontein
2001 Cheetahs 42 Blue Bulls 20 in Bloemfontein
Previous meetings in Absa Currie Cup Finals
2005 Cheetahs 29 Blue Bulls 25 in Pretoria
2004 Blue Bulls 42 Cheetahs 33 in Pretoria
1981 Blue Bulls 23 Cheetahs 6 in Pretoria
1978 Blue Bulls 13 Cheetahs 24 in Bloemfontein
1977 Blue Bulls 27 Cheetahs 12 in Pretoria
1975 Blue Bulls 12 Cheetahs 6 in Bloemfontein
1973 Blue Bulls 30 Cheetahs 22 in Pretoria
Previous Absa Currie Cup titles
Blue Bulls 21 (shared 3 times) - first title in 1946, last in 2004
Cheetahs 2 - first title in 1976, last in 2005